Captain Duane E. Woerth

President

Air Line Pilots Association, International

Captain Duane E. Woerth, a Northwest Airlines pilot with extensive experience in the field of international aviation, is the seventh President of the Air Line Pilots Association, International (ALPA). He was unanimously elected by the Association's Board of Directors in October 1998, and assumed office Jan. 1, 1999.

As the Association's Chief Executive and Administrative Officer, Captain Woerth presides over the meetings of ALPA's governing bodies, which set policies for the organization. He is also chief spokesman for the Association, testifying before congressional committees and presenting the pilots' views to the media and in many forums.

Captain Woerth has served as US-ALPA's Director for the International Federation of Air Line Pilots Associations (IFALPA) and previously served as Chairman of IFALPA’s Industrial Committee. He also served for five years as a member of the Northwest Airlines Board of Directors under the Northwest employee stock ownership plan.

Before assuming office as ALPA President, Captain Woerth served for eight years as the Association's First Vice-President, its second highest-ranking officer He has been the association's principal spokesman and representative in the area of international aviation.

Currently a B-747 captain, he has flown at Northwest for 19 years and at Braniff Airlines for five years. Captain Woerth was involved in ALPA activities at both carriers, and served as the Chairman of the Northwest Master Executive Council, the highest elective office for the Northwest pilot group. He also completed a term as ALPA's Executive Vice President.

Captain Woerth served in the U.S. Air Force for six years and retired with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel from the Air National Guard. He accumulated over 20 years of active and reserve duty, primarily with the Strategic Air Command.

A native of Scribner, Nebraska, Captain Woerth, 52, received his B.S. degree from the University of Nebraska and his M.A. from the University of Oklahoma.

ALPA is the world's oldest and largest labor union and professional organization of airline pilots. The Association represents 66,000 pilots at 47 airlines. In its professional role, ALPA is the industry's leading air-safety advocate. The Association is affiliated with the AFL-CIO, for which Captain Woerth serves as a Vice President, and with the Canadian Labour Council.